Hot cap applier for plants



Nov. 8, 1932. w. D. WRIGHT 1,887,387

30: CAP APPLIER FOR PLANTS Filed Oct. 8. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 721.1; ATTORNEY zx/JZZa'cuw 0. w az Nov. 8, 1932. w. 0. WRIGHT I 7 HOT CAP APPLIER FOR PLANTS Filed 001:. 8. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR mzziqm 0. Mpg 2% zz I Y 2%, ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1932 WILLIAM D. WRIGHT, OF BROCKPORT, NEW YORK nor CAP 'VAPIPLIER non rLAm's Application filed October 8, '193o..'j Serial 118,487,199;

The present invention relates to hot cap appliers for plants and an object thereof is to provide a novel means of effectively covering with dirt the outwardly extending flange at the base of the cap. Another object of the invention is to provide for leveling the base flange of the cap prior to covering the same with dirt. Still another object A of. the invention is to provide for holding the caps in position on the applying member.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts all of which will be hereinafter de A scribed; the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a view in sideelevation' of said. embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through such embodiment; V i

Fig. 4c is a plan view of another embodiment; :1. Fig. 5-is a view in side elevation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4; i

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4;; and i Fig. 7 is a detail View of the leveling device.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, there is employed a cap applying device 1 in the form of an inverted cup shaped member at the end of a shaft 2, which, in this instance, is of hollow formation. This cup shaped applying mem ber receivesa hot cap 3 made of paper treated to make it transparent and having an out wardly extending flange 4 at its edge project-V 40 ing beyond the edge of the applying cup '1 and engaged on its upperv surface by fingers 5 projected horizontally from the .edge of the cup 1. The cap is introduced into the cut and the whole is then applied over the plant to be protected, the flange of the cap being brought against the upper surface of the'soil about the plant. f v

If desired, a cap holding means may be associated with the applying cup, to hold the 0 cap therein. In this embodiment, the cap on by'th'e plows.

holding means; is in the form of a suction means arranged in the hollow shaft 2 to create suction on the cap at its crown point. The hollow shaft 2 forms a cylinder in which a piston 6 operates, the lower end of the cylinder being open to-the cup and the upper end beingclosed at 7 exceptfor a small open-- ing through which a piston rod 8 is connected with the cylinder and extends to a handle 9 above the upper end of the shaft. A spring 10 acts on the rod 8 and the shaft 2 to hold the rod in its lower position. When a handle '11" on the shaft2 is grasped to control the cup applier, the handle 9 may be grasped to 7 create a suction on'the cap at the crown point to "hold the cap while the latter isbeing applied over the plant.

"Associated with the cap applier is'a means forcovering the flange of the cap with dirt. This means, in this instance, comprises a plurality 'of plows 12 which are carried eccentrically by a shaft 13, which, in this instance, is also of hollow formation and surrounds the shaft 2, being supported therefrom by arms lt'extending downwardly and outwardly from the lower end of the shaft 13 and connected to-a ring 15 to which the brackets16 on the plows 12 are connected.

A spring 17 arranged between the lower end of the shaft 13 and a brace 17 between the shaft 2 and the cup 1 acts to hold the plows in an elevated position while the cap is being applied tothe plant. After the cap is applied, the plows are, through'the handle 18 on thejupper end of shaft 13,-forced downwardly into the soil and then turned. The plows are so formed that they throw the soil toward the axis of the shaft 13 and over the 'VVithjthepurpose in view ofinsuring the leveling of the cap flange before the dirt is thrown therein, levelingmeans is provided comprising, in. this instance, rollers 19 mounted to turn on short shafts 20 at oblique angles to'the, horizontal and supported by brackets 21 secured to the ring 15 sothat the rollers travel over the flange slightly in advance of the plows and flatten or level the flange 4 just before the dirtis thrown thereover a plant.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, the cap applier comprises a ring 22 supported by arms 23 from the lower end of a hollow shaft 24 which has a handle 25 at the upper end of said shaft. The cap is received in this applier and when applied over a plant the ring acts to press the flange of the'cap against the soil. a

A holding means may be provided to hold the cap in the applier to release it at will. In this instance, the holding means embodies a pair of spring arms 26 lying in the hollow shaft 24 and having pointed ends 27 adapted to pass through the lower endof the shaft to engage a cap in the applying member. These arms having overlapping deflected portions 28 between their ends and on these deflected portions operates a ring 29 which may be moved up and down in the hollow shaft 24 by means of a rod 30 extending upwardly in thehollow shaft to a hand piece 31 above the upper end-of the shaft. lVhen moved in one direction the jaws open, and when moved in the other direction the jaws close. lVhen closing the jaws will pass be low the lower end of'the shaft and grip a cap at its crown',1and when opening'they pass into the shaft and the cap is stripped therefrom by the end of the shaft and released.

The covering means for the flange of the cap, in this latter embodiment comprises two plows 32 supported by bracket arms .33 which adj istably connect at 34' by bolts and slots with the arms 23. I

In this embodiment the cap applier as well as the'plows are'turned'and this causes the plows to throw the soil inwardly toward the axis of the shaft24 and over the flange of the ca-pprojecting beyond the ring 22.

The leveling or flattening of the flange may be effected by leveling fingers 35 projecting, outwardly from the ring 22 in advance of the plows so that the flange of the cap is flattened just prior to'the soil beingturned thereover 7 by a plow.

In both embodiments of the invention, a cap applier is provided having releasable means for holding a cap therein until the cap is positioned over a plant. This releasable means is mounted in the shaft to whichthe applier is secured and cooperates with the cap at the crown point thereon. Plows are provided which turn the soil over the flange on the hot cap after the latter has been applied The plowsare carried eccentrically by a shaft which, when turned, causes the soil to be moved toward the axis of turning of the shaft. I In advance of the plows operate leveling means which moves the flange of the cap to a position where it will be effectively covered by the soil thrown inwardlyby the, plows.

' What I claim as my invention. and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a shaft, and a,

plow arranged eccentrically to the axis of the shaft, so that when the shaft is turned about its axis the plow will throw dirt inwardly toward the axis of the shaft, of a hot cap applier for applying a hot cap in line with the shaft so that a flange edge on the latter may be covered by the plow on the turning of the shaft. V

2. The combination with a shaft, and a plow arranged eccentrically to the axis of the shaft, soithat whenwthe shaft is turned about its axis the plow will throw dirt inwardly toward the axis of the shaft, of a hot cap applier for applying a hot cap in line with the shaft'so that a flange edge on the latter may be covered by the plow onthe turning of the shaft, and a cap flange leveler mounted eccentrically on the shaft in ad vance of the plow.

3. The combination with a hollow shaft, and a plow arranged eccentrically to the axis of the shaft, so that when the shaft" is turned about its axis, the plow will throw dirt in.-

wardly toward the axis of the shaft, of a.hot

cap applier, a second shaft mounted in the first namedv shaft in a line with both shafts in a position to apply a hot cap over a plant relatively to the shaft of the hot cap applier.

5. The combination with two shafts arranged one within the other, -a cup shaped hot cap applier arranged on one end of the inner shaft in line with the latter, and a plow supported eccentrically by the outer shaft beyond the hot cap applier and having a surface so disposed as to throw dirt toward the hot cap applier as the shaft of the plow is turned relatively to the shaft of the hot cap applier, and a cap flangeleveler carried by the outer shaft n advance of the plow.

v 6. The combination with a cup shaped hot cap applier, a plow, and means supporting said plow for travel about the hot cap applier to cause said plow to throw dirt inwardly over the flange of a hot cap being applied by said applier. r

7 The combinationwitha cup shaped hot cap applier, a plow, and means supporting said plow for travel about the hot cap applier to cause said plow, to throw dirt inwardly over the flange of a hot cap being applied by said applier, and a flange level also supported by said means in advance of the plow.

8. The combination with a hot cap applier, of a plow supported by said applier on the outer side thereof to turn with the applier in order to throw dirt inwardly on the flange of a hot cap being applied by the applier.

9. The combination with a hot cap applier,

of a plow supported by said applier on the outer side thereof to turn with the applier in order to throw dirt inwardly on the flange of a hot cap being applied by the applier, and a flange leveler supported by and on the outside of the applier in advance of the plow.

10. The combination with a hot cap applier, of movable releasable means subject to the control of the operative for holding a hot cap to the applier.

11. The combination with an inverted cup shaped hot cap applier, of movable releasable means arranged to cooperate with th crown of a hot cap in said applier.

12. The combination with an inverted cup shaped hot cap applier of releasable means arranged to cooperate with the crown of a hot cap in said applier, said releasable means being a movable suction creating device.

13. The combination with an inverted cup shaped hot cap applier, of releasable means arranged to cooperate with the crown of a hot cap in said applier said releasable means being a grip device arranged at the crown of the cup shaped applier.

1m 14. The combination with a hollow shaft,

and a hot cap applier arranged at one end of the shaft, of a cap holding means operable in said hollow shaft for engaging the crown of a hot cap in the applier.

15. The combination with a hot cap applier having a handle extending upwardly therefrom, of releasable means for holding a hot cap to the applier, and controlling means for the releasable means mounted on the in handle and subject to the control of an operative from a point above said hot cap applier.

16. The combination with an inverted cup shaped hot cap applier having a handle pro- 3.: jectin upwardly therefrom, and a device for creating a suction in the cap applier mounted on the handle.

17 The combination with an inverted cup shaped hot cap applier, of a handle arranged to above the same, holding means for holding a cap in the applier, and manually operable means for efieoting a control of the releasing means controllable from the handle.

WILLIAM D. WRIGHT. s5 

